Chelsea legend keeps flag flying high at pub 20 years later

To that end, Snifter wishes to pay tribute this week to former sixties Chelsea legend Bert Murray who has notched up two decades at Everards pub the Bull Hotel at Market Deeping, Lincolnshire.

Murray and his wife Eileen moved into the Bull Hotel in 1992 having spent a collective 17 years at two other Market Deeping pubs, the Winning Post and the White Horse.

Having played in a Chelsea team that included Terry Venables, Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris and Peter Osgood, Murray knows the importance of being part of a talented, loyal team. It’s a knowledge that he has carried forward into his time as a licensee with two of his star signings clocking up 56 years of  service between them.

Barmaid Yvonne Curry and cleaner Maureen Leaton, have both been with the Murrays for 28 years each and continue to play their part along with Bill and Eileen, who are planning to remain behind the bar for the immediate future.

Murray said: “It’s wonderful to have spent twenty years at the Bull Hotel and we marked the occasion by holding a bit of a joint celebration with my 70th birthday party.

“It’s a smashing place and the customers we have here are a great bunch, who appreciate their real ale. We have a loyal staff team with us and it all makes for a friendly, family orientated atmosphere in the pub.

“Everards have been good and seem happy with what we are doing here. So if they are happy, Eileen and I plan to keep on going for a few more years yet as we really enjoy running the pub.”

Murray started his football career with Chelsea in 1958, scoring 39 goals in his 160 appearances for the club in the old English First Division. In leaving Chelsea in 1966, he went on to play for Birmingham, Brighton and Peterborough, registering over 100 appearances for each of his three respective clubs. He also won six caps for England at under-23 level.

A true legend if ever there was one.